MITCHELL, SD (Mitchell Now) — The Corn Palace Stampede Rodeo has crowned its first winners for 2026.

In the window decorating contest, the top prize goes to The Pin Cushion. Six panes facing Lawler Street depict the rolling hills of eastern South Dakota. To tie into the rodeo’s theme of “America 250: Red White and Blue,” each sheet of glass has been marked with a bursting firework shell, fragments gently trailing across the panes in the national colors.

CorTrust Bank was the runner up. Staff there went with a barn animal party motif. The chicken blowing on a noise maker, startling a cow in a party hat as it huddles over a 250th birthday cake. Bunting crisscrosses overhead with a horse joining in the fun on the far side. Taking bronze was Twin Dragon with Caribou Coffee just off the medal stand.

The strong field of entries marks a triumphant return for the community event. It was once an annual tradition, and the rodeo committee is hoping to turn it into one again.

Extreme bull riding was the first rodeo event, and it came out of the chute hot. A South Dakota native finished in second place, just one point behind the winner. Noah Lee of Mineral Wells, Texas, is the top-ranked bull rider in the world, and he showed why with an 86.5 point ride in Section 2 of the event atop Party Bus. Lecher’s Mason Moody was breathing down Lee’s neck and can take pride in being one of only four qualifying rides for the whole event. Lee is first in the PRCA World and Xtreme Bulls categories at just 18 years old.

Friday through Sunday feature traditional PRCA rodeo action. There is also the parade down Main Street on Saturday morning and Sunday is Family Fun Day, plus the chili cook off.